The Myth of “Ambush”

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Originally Posted by ScottF
Yes, to tie, and still 3 minutes on the clock.
So the Colts are going to try to Ambush the Saints? If not then I guarantee you the Saints would drive the field and kick a ...

I remember feeling completely confident and calm at halftime and not even that concerned about the scoreboard. The momentum had already shifted late in the half, and I could "see" that Drew was starting to see stuff and figure things out, like picking a lock, and the offense was moving the ball, and our D was making it tougher for the Colts, just like they had done to teams all year long. It looked like the 2009 Saints!

But Ambush of course sent the popcorn flying, as everyone in the room with me jumped up to watch the scrum!

Yeah we would've had the game with or without ambush, but have to say it was one of the most nervous 2 hours (or at least it felt that way) while the refs were deciding on who to award the recovered ball.

I can't name another coach who did that. But why should that matter? In the end that play didn't win the game. It was a good play and it contributed to the win. But how can anyone not think most of the play that sealed the deal just when it looked like the game was about to be tied up? That's an enormous swing. Much more than any perceived momentum swing the onside kick caused. We were pretty much dominating them from the end of the first quarter.

I mean, everybody has their own opinions but I'm blown away that people could come to any other conclusion. I'm not seeing a grey area that leaves any room for argument. But that's me.

According to America, the most memorable play in Saints history is “Ambush,” the onsides kick Sean Payton called to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV. A February 8, 2010 headline from NJ.com, the New Jersey Star-Ledger website, sums up how “Ambush” is popularly viewed: “Saints’ successful onsides kick shocks Colts, changes momentum of Super Bowl.” This popular view explains why America voted the way it did.

It’s also wrong.

It’s wrong because the Saints had taken over whatever we mean when we talk about momentum well before the onsides kick ever happened. In fact, from the start of the Saints’ first scoring drive, which began with 36 seconds left in the first quarter, through the end of the first half, the Saints outgained the Colts 157 yards to 15. They scored a field goal, had a long drive end on downs at the Colts’ one yard line, and then scored another field goal. Meanwhile, the Colts punted.

The odds of getting the recovery and marching it all the way down with Brees were likely a lot higher than trying to fight back into the game. It looked borderline insane on the field but put a pencil to it and I bet it's a fairly rational call.

I understand we were playing better but the stats said we had to take a possession away and I think that was the verdict.

The odds of getting the recovery and marching it all the way down with Brees were likely a lot higher than trying to fight back into the game. It looked borderline insane on the field but put a pencil to it and I bet it's a fairly rational call.

I understand we were playing better but the stats said we had to take a possession away and I think that was the verdict.

I have no doubt Payton would have called "Ambush" sometime in the second half. I just wonder whether it would have been on the second half kickoff, with the game tied 10-10 and the Saints having all the momentum.

I flagged down Doc Brown and went back in timetied up I kicked off normally. The Colts ran it back for a TD then they onside kicked and scored another TD Colts won! It's okay though, we lost but they were hurting the next day!